Zakk Wylde Says A.I. Music Generators Are Fine, But You Can’t Replace Ozzy’s Mind Or Tony Iommi’s Riffs
During a January 28 question-and-answer session at the HMV store on Oxford Street in London, United Kingdom, Zakk Wylde weighed in on a debate about people using an A.I. (artificial intelligence) music generator as a tool to create melodies, harmonies and rhymes based on artificial intelligence (A.I.) algorithms and machine learning (M.L.) models. The BLACK LABEL SOCIETY frontman and longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “A.I. is fine. It would almost kind of be like if me and you were sitting around going, ‘Hey, guys, can you write a song you think BLACK SABBATH would write?’ So it’s no different than that. But you’re never gonna be able to replace what is coming out of Ozzy’s [Osbourne, SABBATH singer] mind, what’s coming out of Tony Iommi’s [SABBATH guitarist] mind, what Geezer’s [Butler, SABBATH bassist/lyricist] thinking when he’s gonna write lyrics, and how Bill’s [Ward, SABBATH drummer] gonna approach the drums on a riff, what kind of drum beat he’s gonna play.”
Oh, Zakk, always the voice of reason in a world where robots are apparently trying to steal guitar solos. He continued, ” ‘Cause when you get a record from whatever your favorite artist or your favorite band [is], you’re getting a piece of them. So you can’t ever replace that.” Sure, because nothing says “authentic rock experience” like a machine spitting out a riff that sounds vaguely like “Iron Man” but with the emotional depth of a toaster.
” It’s just like saying you’re gonna write A.I. PANTERA,” Wylde added. “You can’t replace what was going on in Dime’s [PANTERA guitarist Darrell Abbott] mind and what Vinnie’s [Paul Abbott, PANTERA drummer] gonna play. PANTERA is those four guys — so it’s Philip [Anselmo, PANTERA singer], Rex [Brown, PANTERA bassist], Dime and Vinnie. And that’s that. I mean, that’s PANTERA.” Right, because nothing screams “human connection” like four dudes in Texas shredding their faces off while arguing about whether to tune to E or D.
But wait, there’s more! Zakk didn’t stop at just defending the sanctity of human creativity. Oh no, he had to drag Elton John and Bernie Taupin into this mess too. “You can’t replace what’s coming out of Elton John’s mind, what he wants to sit down and play on a piano and what Bernie Taupin’s gonna write lyrically. That’s the beauty of the human element of music.” Because clearly, the only thing more sacred than a Tony Iommi riff is a piano ballad about a tiny dancer.
Wylde continued: “But, I mean, A.I. is fine. It’s fun, in regards, though, if it’s gonna write something that sounds like what LED ZEPPELIN would write or what BLACK SABBATH would write. And it’s just, like, ‘Oh, wow. This came out pretty cool.’ ” Ah yes, because nothing says “fun” like watching a computer try to replicate the genius of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. It’s like watching a toddler try to solve a Rubik’s Cube—adorable, but ultimately pointless.
“I remember when Ozzy heard it the first time, he was, like, ‘Oh my god. Zakk, have you heard this thing?’ I’m, like, ‘Yeah, I think it’s great.’ It’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’, and then you stick in Ozzy singing ‘War Pigs’ over the riff, and then Robert Plant comes in on the solo. I’m, like, ‘Dude, this is the coolest thing ever.’ ” Sure, Zakk, because nothing screams “coolest thing ever” like a Frankenstein mashup of rock legends. It’s like putting peanut butter on a pizza—technically edible, but why?
“So, it’s having fun with it. But you’re never gonna replace Ozzy coming up with that melody, Tony coming up with that music, and Geezer coming up with those lyrics. And then ‘Whole Lotta Love’, Jimmy Page playing that riff and then Robert Plant singing the ‘Whole Lotta Love’ scream over the top of it. ‘Cause that’s the real thing. You can never replace the real thing.” Preach, Zakk! Because nothing says “real thing” like a bunch of humans sweating, screaming, and occasionally setting their hair on fire for the sake of art.
He then quipped: “My wife has no problem replacing me with various other people and things, but as long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.” Classic Zakk, always keeping it real. Because nothing says “rock star” like making self-deprecating jokes about your marriage. Maybe A.I. can write a song about that—something like “Wife Replacement Blues” with a catchy chorus about being replaced by a Roomba.
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY’s new album, “Engines Of Demolition”, will be released on March 27 via MNRK Heavy. The follow-up to 2021’s “Doom Crew Inc.” contains 15 tracks, including the four previously released singles, “Name In Blood”, “Broken And Blind”, “The Gallows” and “Lord Humungus”, as well as a tune titled “Ozzy’s Song”, which is a tribute to the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist/vocalist’s longtime bandmate, the iconic BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne. Because nothing says “tribute” like a song titled “Ozzy’s Song” that probably sounds like every other BLS track but with more references to beer and Satan.
Wylde formed BLACK LABEL SOCIETY in 1998 and has kept the band busy in between touring and recording with Ozzy Osbourne, whose backing group he first joined nearly four decades ago. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY’s “Order Of The Black” (2010) and “Catacombs Of The Black Vatican” (2014) both broke into the Top Five on the hard rock album charts. Because nothing says “success” like two albums that sound like every other BLS album but with slightly different album art.
Since first joining Ozzy, Zakk had played on all of the BLACK SABBATH singer’s solo albums except for 2020’s “Ordinary Man”, including such classic efforts as “No More Tears” (1991), “Ozzmosis” (1995) and “Black Rain” (2007). Because nothing says “classic” like an album titled “Black Rain” that probably has a song about rain that’s black. Deep stuff, Zakk. Deep stuff.
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